Sheet-metal bow.



J. JENNISON & G. H. HIGGINS.

SHEET METAL BOW.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2, I9I7.

Patented Jan. 1, 191b`.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. JENNISON & G. H. HIGGINS4 .SHEET METAL BOW. APPLICATION min FEB.12. 1917.

1,251,532. v Patented Jan. 1, 1918.A

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

JESSE JENNISON AND GEORGE H. HIGGINS, 0F CORTLAND, NEW YORK.

SHEET-METAL Bow.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JESSE JENNIsoN and GEORGE H. HIGGINS, citizens of the United States, and residents of Cortland, in the county of Cortland, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Im-4 provements in Sheet-Metal Bows, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in bows, and pertains specifically to a sheet metal tubular bow Vfor use with bow sockets of tops for vehicles, such as automobiles, motor-boats, and the like.

An object ofl the invention is toV produce a bow comprising a hollow steel tube, preferably of oval cross Section, which may be made of predetermined uniform length and preferably somewhat tapered at its opposite ends and adapted to be further automatically tapered when assembled by driving fit with a b'ow socket. By this 'construction the use gf bow-setting machines is avoided in assemlinO. Y

Fiairther, the bow may be provided with a Japan enamel finish, thus permitting the omission" of the usual fabric covering required with wooden bows.

' Further, in the use of wooden bows ordinarilysteamed and bent to required shape, variations in temperature and humidity deform thefbows vso that the uniform character' and shape of the bows is lost and re-bending is necessary in assembling the bows and sockets, whereas the shape of the tubular metallic bows is'permanent and uniform.

The tubular sheet metal bow is lighter and of greater strength for the same cross section as compared with wooden bows, and the oval shape of the bow permits the free and unobstructed passage of the links, arms and the like of one man tops without cutting away corners and projecting angular parts of wooden bows.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bow of this invent-ion assembled by a driving fit with a portionof a bow socket. Y

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of a bow socket so assembled, parts being shown in section. y

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-8, Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918..

' Application led February 12, 1917. Serial No. 148,099.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4 4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal Sectionl through the bow and a clamp for Securing the bow to the top of a wind-shield illustrating the method of attaching the clamp to the bow.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a complete bow Showing one end of the bow fitted within the usual bow socket.

As Shown, each bow -lcomprises'a single'strip of Sheet metal bent in tubular form and preferably of oval cross Section, the portions -2- and -3- of the strip being turned inwardly and diverging inwardly and having their edge portions -4- and -5-, respectively, provided with return-bent interlocked flanges formingA a keystone channel ext-ending longitudinally k*of the bow.

Vithin the channel is positioned a strip or insert- -6- of wood or suitable material,

to which the fabric covering of the top, such as leather' or the like, maybe readily secured, the insert being of keystone conformation in cross section to fit the channel and permanently secure the wooden strip therein.

In the process of manufacture, the wooden stripmay be drawn into the channel before the longitudinal bends are formed inthe bow. The bow may then be bent longitudinally to desired form, the'usual form being with its ends -T- extending substantially parallel land atV approximately right angles to the body of the bow. The end portions .-7- may then be compressed in any suitable Inanner to tapered form, contracting Somewhat the keystone channel adjacent the ends of the bow and compressing the wooden insert to further assist in constituting the engagement between the insert and the bow of a permanent nature. The end of the bow'is so shaped by driving fit as to tightly t within the bow socket -8- .of usual 'downwardly tapered form.

The bow vmay be driven into the socket until the frictional engagement renders their connection rigid, and automatically com` pressing and tapering the ends .-*7- of the bow.

Whenthe flangedend portions -4- and -5- have beenrinterlocked, they may be rolled in any suitable and usual manner to minimize the projection of these portions and to constitute the inner :surface of the recess of substantially continuous even contour.v It will be understood that the showing of these flanged Aportions shown in Figs.

3 and l is exaggerated as to these portions of the structure in order` to illustrate clearly the interlocking engagement of the parts.

An important feature of this invention resides in the method ot' securing a clamp or attachment to the bow by means of which the top can be secured to any stationary portion, as the wind-shield. The clamp -9- has a base portion -10- adapted to rest against the inner surface of the bow.

Suitable openings or conduits are formed in the wooden insert -6*, such openings extending through the inner wall of the channel formed of the parts -land fi- The inner yall of the bou' is formed with an opening ot greater diameter adapted to receive and permit the passage .otl a sleeve or ferrule -11-, the inner end ot which is adapted to lie in Contact with the inner wall of the keystone channel, while the outer end rests in contact with the base lO-ot clamp -9*. Bolts 12M are then extended through the openings in the wooden insert Fiand the inner wall of the keystone channel through the ferrules -11- and registering openings in the base -10-. rl`hese bolts are adapted to receive nuts -13- by which the parts are drawn tightly together and the clamp rigidly secured to .the bow.

It' will be apparent that the terrules 11- act to prevent any substantial deformation of the tubular bow by tixedly spacing the inner wall of the channel and the base ot the clamp -9-, forming a continuous rigid structure at the point of connection of the clamp.

It will also be apparent that the interlocked joint between the ends of the strip of metal comprising the tube may be formed at any point along the tube, and, as shown is formed in the inner wall of the recess and should preferably be formed somewhere in the wall voi" the recess, although not, perhaps, as a portion of the inner wall.

By the words csolid tube as used in the claims hereot' is meant a rigid complete tube y preferably formed ot' a single strip of sheet metal, or its equivalent, by bending to desired form and having its longitudinal edges rigidly and permanently united or interlocked.

Although 'we have shown and described one specificconstructiomtorm and method ot assemblage ot the parts, we do-not desire to limit ourselves to the same except as specifically set forth in the claims hereto annexed, as many changes may bemade in the details ot form,.construction and method ot assemblage without' departing from the spirit of this invention as set forthin the appended claims.

Further, as shown in Fig. 1, the tube l may be formed with drawn or otherwise produced projections -l5 lying over the adjacent edge of the wooden insert -G The bow is adapted for securement to the socket by means additional to the frictional engagement, such as forcing a punch through the contacting walls of the parts to form interlocking burs.

That we claim is:

l. A U shaped bow formed of a rigid complete metallic tube having a longitudinal groove extending throughout its entire length and interrupting the continuity of the exterior contour otl the tube, a wooden insert secured in and substantially fitting the groove and exposed upon the outer tace of the tube, the ends of the tube being contractible and adapted to be tapered by driving lit with the upper ends of tapered respective bow sockets t-o constitute a substantially rigid frictional engagement between-the bow and the bow sockets, said complete metallic tube formed of a strip of sheet metal having its longitudinal edges rigidly united to form a seam extending longitudinally of the bow.

Q. A U shaped bow formed of a rigidcomplete metallic tube of oval cross section having its opposite ends adapted for insertion within and trictional engagement withopposite tubular bow sockets of tapered form, said metallic tubular bow having a longitudinal groove extending lthroughout substantially its entire length and interruptingthe continuity of the exterior cont-our of the tube,

a wooden insert secured in and substantially f fitting the groove and exposed upon the outer tace of the tube, jsaid tube formed of a strip of sheet metalhaving its longitudinal edges rigidly and permanently united to Vform a seam extending longitudinally of the bow.

3. A U shaped bow formed of a rigid complete metallic tube of oval cross section having a longitudinal groove otinvertedkeystone shape extending throughout its entire length and interrupting the continuity of the exterior contour of the tube, a wooden insert secured in and substantially fitting the groove and exposed upon the outer face of the tube, the ends of the tube being vcontractible and adapted to be tapered by driving lit with the upper ends ot tapered respective -bow sockets to constitute a substantially rigid trictional engagement between the rbow and the bow sockets, said completemetallie tube formed of a strip of sheet metal having its longitudinal edges rigidly united to form a seam in the wall of the keystone groove and extending longitudinally-of.' the bow.

et. The combination with-bow sockets having seats in their upper ends, ot a U-shaped bow Jformed of a rigid complete metallic tube of ova-l cross sectiontapered at its op- )osite ends for engagement with said bow sockets, said tube having a longitudinal ilo groove extending throughout substantially its entire length and interrupting the continuity of the exterior contour of the tube, a wooden insert secured in and substantially fitting the groove and exposed upon the outer` surface of the tube, said tube formed of a strip of sheet metal having its longitudinal edges rigidly and permanently united to form a seam extending longitudinally of the bow.

5; A tubular sheet metal bow having a longitudinal channel, a wooden insert in said channel, a conduit through the wooden insert and the inner wall of the channel, an enlarged opening through the bow registering with Said conduit, an attachment having a portion resting against the bow, a ferrule between the attachment and the inner wall of the channel, and a bolt extending through said conduit, said ferrule and said attachment for securing the attachment to the bow.

6. A tubular sheet metal bow having a longitudinal channel, a wooden insert in the channel, an attachment secured to the bow by means extending through the tubular sheet metal and the Wooden insert, and means for bracing the channel wall against the attachment.

7. A tubular sheet metal bow having a Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti,

longitudinal channel, a wooden insert in the channel, an attachment secured to the bow by means extending through the tubular sheet metal and the wooden insert, and a sleeve within the bow and held in place by said means and holding the channel wall in predetermined position relatively to the opposite wall of the bow.

8. The combination with bow sockets having tapered seats in their upper ends, of a bow comprising a rigid, complete metallic tube tapered at its opposite ends for engagement with said bow sockets, said tube having a longitudinal groove of inverted keystone shape extending throughout substantially its entire length and interruptinoV the continuity of the exterior contour or the tube, and a wooden insert secured in and substantially iitting the groove and exposed upon the outer surface of the tube and forming a substantially symmetrical continuation of the exterior contour of the tube.

In witness whereof We have hereunto Set our hands this 9th day of February, 1917.

JESSE JENNISON. GEORGE H. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. CLARK, GRAY J oY.

Washington, D. C. 

